A dream fulfilled as the impossible comes true for the Cubs

Mr. Cub wrote those words on an autographed photo of him and Anthony Rizzo, who attached it to the wall of his locker in the spring of 2015.

Ernie Banks, the Cubs icon, and Rizzo, the young first baseman, had bonded after Rizzo's arrival from the Padres in 2012. After Banks died in January 2015, Rizzo paid tribute to his friend by posting the photo in his locker, a daily affirmation from a man synonymous with sunshine.

It wasn't one of the catchy slogans the Cubs would make famous in 2016 — "Embrace the Target" or "Try Not to Suck" — and it wasn't particularly poetic. Just a friendly reminder from someone who never made it to a World Series that it all starts with a dream.

Now Rizzo and the Cubs finally had made it to the World Series, ending a 71-year wait that spawned the "lovable losers" epithet and made the franchise a late-night TV punchline from Johnny Carson to Stephen Colbert. All they needed to do was beat the Indians to end the 107-year championship drought and kick off the party of the century in Chicago.

Rizzo and Travis Wood were the last of the 2012 Cubs that lost 101 games in the first year of The Plan. On the eve of Game 1 of the Series, Rizzo reminisced about the winter of 2014, when Joe Maddon arrived and Jon Lester signed. At last, the dream finally began to look real.

"It was a turning point," Rizzo said. "I remember saying to my parents 'I should be on a contending team the rest of my career.' The first four years of it weren't like that. It's a good feeling to come in knowing we're going to play this game and next year we're going to go into spring training expecting to win the World Series again, just like we did this year, expecting to win the World Series.

"It's exciting stuff."

It was, and the Cubs not only were ready, they had an October Surprise in their back pocket — the return of Kyle Schwarber, who had missed more than six months rehabbing from knee surgery after an outfield collision with Dexter Fowler in the third game of the season.

A couple of days earlier, Schwarber had been playing in front of 100 people in an Arizona Fall League game, preparing to launch a made-for-"30-for-30"-style comeback. Now he was on baseball's biggest stage, trying to help end an epic drought, with millions of Cubs fans dreaming big.

The weight of the past was heavier than ever, but the time had arrived.

Here they were. Now they were here.

CAPTION

Theo Epstein ahead of Game 1 of the World Series. (Paul Skrbina/Chicago Tribune)

Theo Epstein ahead of Game 1 of the World Series. (Paul Skrbina/Chicago Tribune)

CAPTION

The Cubs work out at Cleveland's Progressive Field on Oct. 24, 2016, before the World Series begins. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)

The Cubs work out at Cleveland's Progressive Field on Oct. 24, 2016, before the World Series begins. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)

Digging deep

The Rev. Burke Masters, a Cubs chaplain, celebrated Mass on Sunday morning in the Wrigley Field stands before Game 5 of the World Series, as the participants hoped to restore faith that had been shattered in the blink of an eye.

After Indians ace Corey Kluber shut down the Cubs in a 6-0 victory in Game 1, Schwarber's Hollywood comeback and Jake Arrieta's dominance led them to a 5-1 triumph in Game 2 that knotted the Series for the much-anticipated return to Chicago.

The pregame scene for the first World Series game at Wrigley Field since 1945 resembled a Norman Rockwell painting, warm and fuzzy and visually perfect. But the game itself was Stephen King-like, a horrific 1-0 Cubs loss that gave the Indians home-field advantage again.

John Lackey, who ripped the Chicago media for pointing out the Cubs' postseason swings during the National League Championship Series, saying "you guys dramatize everything," was overdramatic during a Game 4 meltdown. Lackey repeatedly lost his cool after Kris Bryant made his second error during a two-run second inning, sending the Indians to a 7-2 victory and commanding 3-1 series lead.

Ricketts needs Mayor Rahm Emanuel for city approval on many of the changes at Wrigley, and he needs John Lackey to...

Two of the more polarizing figures in Chicago were on the same field Saturday night at Game 4 of the World Series, and Cubs Chairman Tom Ricketts has to get along with both of them.

Ricketts needs Mayor Rahm Emanuel for city approval on many of the changes at Wrigley, and he needs John Lackey to...

(Paul Sullivan)

The Cubs' high hopes of ending the drought seemingly were dashed, and the only thing left for the Indians to do to clinch their first championship in 68 years was to win one of three games, starting with beating Lester in Game 5.

That was not happening.

Lester struck out the side in the first to keep hope alive but served up a home run to Jose Ramirez in the second to quiet the home crowd. The Cubs were in the midst of another offensive funk, just like the one in the NLCS, and couldn't find an escape hatch.

Bryant had been 1-for-15 in the Series, making his decision to film a commercial with a billy goat for an energy drink look ominous.

Damn, that old goat had won again.

But the kid with the never-ending grin stepped to the plate to start the bottom of the fourth inning and calmly cranked a home run into the left-field bleachers, tying the game and starting the Sigh Heard 'Round Chicago.

The situation: With the crowd at Wrigley Field subdued after Jose Ramirez's second-inning home run gave the Indians a 1-0 lead, the Cubs were in need of a spark with their season on the line. Upped stepped Kris Bryant to lead off the bottom of the fourth.

What happened next: On a 1-1 count, Bryant...

(Chris Kuc)

Rizzo then doubled off the ivy in right, and suddenly the ballpark was alive again. Addison Russell's infield hit brought in the go-ahead run, and David Ross' sacrifice fly made it 3-1.

Lester was not going to give up this lead. No chance. But he told Maddon after six innings and 90 pitches that he was done, turning the season over to the Cubs' shaky bullpen.

Carl Edwards Jr. came on with a one-run lead in the seventh, but after a single and flyout, Maddon had an October Surprise of his own. Edwards was yanked for closer Aroldis Chapman, who was being asked to do the unthinkable — get the final eight outs and get the Cubs to Game 6.

Chapman delivered — but only after scaring the daylights out of Cubs Nation, neglecting to cover first on Rajai Davis' infield hit to Rizzo with one out in the eighth.

Would the lack of hustle with the season on the line ultimately turn Chapman into the goat of the century?

Chapman let Davis steal second and third with ease, greasing the skids for his demise, before Francisco Lindor was called out on strikes to end the suspense.

Crisis averted.

Photos from Game 5 of the World Series at Wrigley Field on Oct. 30, 2016.

After the Game 5 victory, Maddon gave the players a timeout for Halloween instead of having them fly to Cleveland for the off day. This was the genius of Maddon, the reason he had been able to get the most of his players. Let them be dads first and Cubs employees second.

There was no way to quantify its affect, but the players appreciated the chance to breathe. Lester and Ross took their kids trick-or-treating, getting their first taste of a Wrigleyville Halloween.

"It was a little nuts," Ross said. "Some lady, had to be about 60, was something. She was sprinting down the street because she didn't answer the door and then saw it was me and Jon Lester walking around. It was crazy, but fun crazy. People were excited."

Another mood swing in the city that couldn't sleep was well underway. Bryant's home run got them off the mat, the tag-team performance of Lester and Chapman saved the season and they had Arrieta and Kyle Hendricks going in Games 6 and 7, respectively.

"What could go wrong?" fans said to themselves, knowing perfectly well what could — and perhaps would.

CAPTION

Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo reacts to the team's 3-2 win over the Indians in Game 5 of the World Series. (Paul Skrbina/Chicago Tribune)

Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo reacts to the team's 3-2 win over the Indians in Game 5 of the World Series. (Paul Skrbina/Chicago Tribune)

CAPTION

Cubs catcher David Ross reacts to playing his final game at Wrigley Field, a 3-2 win over the Indians in Game 5 of the World Series. (Chris Kuc/Chicago Tribune)

Cubs catcher David Ross reacts to playing his final game at Wrigley Field, a 3-2 win over the Indians in Game 5 of the World Series. (Chris Kuc/Chicago Tribune)

Rolling the dice

The real curse of the Cubs was not the billy goat or the black cat or the foul ball. It was having to flash back to an awful moment or poor decision-making at a crucial juncture of a potential history-changing game.

In 1984, it was manager Jim Frey going with Scott Sanderson in Game 4 of the NLCS in San Diego with a 2-1 series lead over the Padres. Rick Sutcliffe, the major leagues' best pitcher, was ready to go, and Game 2 winner Steve Trout was ready for Game 5 if necessary. Thirty-two years later, it still rankled the '84 Cubs.

"We've visited that area many times," said Ron Cey, the team's third baseman known as 'the Penguin' for his inimitable waddle. "Yeah, it kind of grinds at me once in a while. I didn't discuss it with (Frey), but I discussed it with a lot of people."

Cubs managers, even the most successful ones, had contributed to the weight.

Leo Durocher ran the '69 Cubs regulars into the ground by playing them every day, not trusting his bench players to give them a breather. Dusty Baker watched Mark Prior implode in the eighth inning of Game 6 of the 2003 NLCS because he didn't trust his bullpen. Lou Piniella removed Carlos Zambrano early in Game 1 of the 2008 NLDS so he could save him for the Game 4 that never was.

Maddon had been infallible to this point. None of his crazy moves ever seemed to backfire, and he was not going to stop rolling the dice in Game 6.

Bryant hit a two-out, 433-foot home run off Josh Tomlin on an 0-2 pitch in the first, and the Cubs were off and running. They scored twice more in the inning thanks to some shoddy Indians fielding and pulled away in the third on Addison Russell's grand slam.

Game 7 was not only a possibility, it was in the bank.

All the Cubs had to do was hold on and force a scenario in which the pressure would be on the Indians to avoid a choke. The shoe was on the other foot — for once — and it was a comfortable feeling indeed.

Photos from Game 6 of the World Series at Progressive Field in Cleveland, Ohio on Nov. 1, 2016.

Leading 7-2 with two on and two outs in the Indians half of the seventh, Maddon rolled the dice once more, calling on Chapman again. A five-run lead was fine, but Maddon refused to look ahead. Lindor smoked a hot grounder to Rizzo off of first, and this time, Chapman sprinted toward the bag for Rizzo's throw instead of malingering on the mound.

Two feet hit the bag at nearly the same moment. Lindor was called safe, loading the bases. Ron Santo could be heard from above: "Oh, nooo."

But Chapman's hustle paid off. A replay challenge overturned the call, and the Cubs were out of the inning. Chapman pitched to only three batters in the eighth, and the Cubs scored a pair in the ninth to grab a six-run lead.

With a bullpen full of options, Maddon inexplicably sent Chapman back out to start the ninth. Twitter lit up in Chicago with variations on a theme: C'mon, Joe. Save Chapman for Game 7.

Yes, Chapman had done his job, but at what price? Would his arm still be attached for Game 7? Why did Maddon waste his closer with a seemingly comfortable lead?

But here’s the thing: Taking out starter Jake Arrieta with two outs in the sixth when he had a five-run lead in Game 6 of the World Series on Tuesday...

"Don’t be a fan."

That’s what Cubs manager Joe Maddon says he writes at the top of his lineup card each night. It’s all fine and good and smart.

But here’s the thing: Taking out starter Jake Arrieta with two outs in the sixth when he had a five-run lead in Game 6 of the World Series on Tuesday...

(Steve Rosenbloom)

Chapman walked the leadoff hitter, and Maddon brought in Pedro Strop and then Travis Wood to seal a 9-3 victory. In the postgame clubhouse, Ross was asked if he was managing the game along with Maddon.

"You're always managing in your mind," Ross said. "I keep a lot of it to myself — what I would do and wouldn't do. I used to talk about it a lot more. I keep it to myself a lot more."

Was "Grandpa" surprised at Maddon's moves?

"Oh yeah, but he has been doing it a lot longer than I have," he said., "He didn't come down there and go 'Hey, Rossie, what do you think I should do?' I definitely didn't see that coming, but I was glad it worked out the way it did. … You bring guys in in big situations — is he the closer, is he not?"

The traditional role of a closer had been obliterated in this postseason, thanks to Indians manager Terry Francona's inspired use of Andrew Miller whenever he felt it necessary.

"This game is crazy," Ross said. "One thing I do like about Joe is he doesn't take anything for granted. It was pretty cool how that all played out. Chappy, with all the pitches he had the other night, looked sharp tonight. In Cincy, Joey Votto used to say the more he pitches the better he seems to get.

"He just seems to be really sharp, his throwing strike one, and his slider was decent. He was high-fiving everyone in the dugout, and I told him 'Hey, man, get the heck out of here. Go ice down and get ready for tomorrow. Get some sleep.'"

The Cubs went to sleep knowing they would play in a Game 7 of the World Series.

Dream big?

"Everything you guys write about us tomorrow, if we win it, it will be the best things of our life," Rizzo said. "We have to come in tomorrow and get it done."

CAPTION

Cubs shortstop Addison Russell on the World Series Game 6 victory. (Paul Skrbina/Chicago Tribune)

Cubs shortstop Addison Russell on the World Series Game 6 victory. (Paul Skrbina/Chicago Tribune)

CAPTION

Cubs shortstop Addison Russell on the World Series Game 6 victory. (Paul Skrbina/Chicago Tribune)

Cubs shortstop Addison Russell on the World Series Game 6 victory. (Paul Skrbina/Chicago Tribune)

CAPTION

Cubs' Anthony Rizzo on meeting the challege in the World Series. (Mark Gonzales/Chicago Tribune)

Cubs' Anthony Rizzo on meeting the challege in the World Series. (Mark Gonzales/Chicago Tribune)

Cubs pitcher Jake Arrieta on being available for Game 7 of the World Series. (Paul Skrbina/Chicago Tribune)

Cubs pitcher Jake Arrieta on being available for Game 7 of the World Series. (Paul Skrbina/Chicago Tribune)

CAPTION

Cubs closer Aroldis Chapman says there are "no issues" with his foot after a play at first base in the seventh inning in World Series Game 6. (Mark Gonzales/Chicago Tribune)

Cubs closer Aroldis Chapman says there are "no issues" with his foot after a play at first base in the seventh inning in World Series Game 6. (Mark Gonzales/Chicago Tribune)

'Here we stand'

Armageddon arrived on another unseasonably warm night in Cleveland, and the prevailing thought was the Cubs either would celebrate or implode by midnight.

"Obviously there is going to be a team that's pouring champagne tonight, and there's going to be a team that's disappointed," general manager Jed Hoyer said. "There is no way around that. But that's kind of the way I've looked at it all day.

"Listen, we need to win our 114th game, and it's a good feeling to be able to say that. On Day One of spring training if someone said to me 'You're playing one game to win the World Series,' I'd take that all day long.

No more Cubbies. I suppose it's now Cubz. Or Kubz. Something millennial and mean, something tough, something a winner can strut.

From the brink to the peak, from dismissal to glorious, doing it the hard way, as if the Cubs have ever done it any other.

And so they stand alone, for now, maybe for a...

(Bernie Lincicome)

Dexter Fowler's leadoff home run off Kluber provided a much-needed spark, and the Cubs built a 5-1 lead by the fifth, beginning the silent countdown back home. Lester replaced Hendricks with two outs in the fifth and threw a wild pitch that brought home two runs, but Ross answered with a home run in the sixth, and all was well again.

Lester cruised into the eighth and had four outs to go with a three-run lead when Maddon opted to keep rolling the dice, bringing in Chapman after a two-out single. Brandon Guyer's RBI double cut the lead to two, and Davis followed with a tying, two-run, line-drive homer to left, shaking the foundation at Progressive Field.

Having spotted Jason Heyward isolated from the media throng and conducting a one-on-one interview during the Cubs' epic celebration after their victory in Game 7 of the World Series, Jason Hammel walked over and stood guard with his hand on his teammate's shoulder.

As the reporter wrapped up his...

Having spotted Jason Heyward isolated from the media throng and conducting a one-on-one interview during the Cubs' epic celebration after their victory in Game 7 of the World Series, Jason Hammel walked over and stood guard with his hand on his teammate's shoulder.

As the reporter wrapped up his...

(Chris Kuc)

Fox Sports' Tom Verducci reported that Chapman was crying in the clubhouse, destroyed by the possibility of being the World Series goat. But Jason Heyward gathered the team together for a players-only meeting in the weight room and delivered an inspirational speech to get everyone's mind back on the prize instead of the collapse.

When the 17-minute delay ended, Schwarber led off with a single, and pinch runner Albert Almora Jr. advanced on Bryant's 400-foot flyout to center. After an intentional walk to Rizzo, Ben Zobrist answered the call with a double down the left-field line to give the Cubs the lead again.

Another apocalyptic sigh swept across Chicago. Zobrist's double had marginalized the gloom-and-doomers waiting to proclaim "I told you so" after the ultimate collapse.

But it wasn't over yet, and up stepped Miguel Montero, who had replaced Ross behind the plate in the ninth.

Montero had been relegated to the bench since Game 4 of the NLCS. His pinch-hit grand slam in Game 1 of the NLCS was his shining moment, and after he received communion from Burke during morning Mass at Wrigley the next day, the priest was ecstatic.

"Miggy has had such a tough year, and I was just so happy for him to have that moment of celebration," he said. "He deserves it."

CAPTION

A day in the life of Chicago, after 108 years of waiting, the Cubs won the 2016 World Series. (Roger Morales/Chicago Tribune)

A day in the life of Chicago, after 108 years of waiting, the Cubs won the 2016 World Series. (Roger Morales/Chicago Tribune)

CAPTION

A day in the life of Chicago, after 108 years of waiting, the Cubs won the 2016 World Series. (Roger Morales/Chicago Tribune)

A day in the life of Chicago, after 108 years of waiting, the Cubs won the 2016 World Series. (Roger Morales/Chicago Tribune)

CAPTION

Watch the Cubs beat the Cleveland Indians in Game 7 of the World Series during extra-innings. Nov. 2, 2016. (Chicago Tribune)

Watch the Cubs beat the Cleveland Indians in Game 7 of the World Series during extra-innings. Nov. 2, 2016. (Chicago Tribune)

CAPTION

Cubs' Willson Contreras on Game 7 win in World Series: "I'll be honest -- I was crying." (Mark Gonzales/Chicago Tribune)

Cubs' Willson Contreras on Game 7 win in World Series: "I'll be honest -- I was crying." (Mark Gonzales/Chicago Tribune)

Cubs center fielder Dexter Fowler reacts to the team's fan support after their World Series win. (Chris Kuc/Chicago Tribune)

Cubs center fielder Dexter Fowler reacts to the team's fan support after their World Series win. (Chris Kuc/Chicago Tribune)

Montero had been 0-for-3 in the Series but made his last at-bat count, driving a single up the middle to make it 8-6. Maddon called on Edwards to start the 10th but pulled the rookie for Mike Montgomery after Davis' RBI single brought the Indians to within a run.

Montgomery's arrival was much less heralded than Chapman's, but here he was in Game 7 of the World Series. On Montgomery's second pitch, Michael Martinez slapped a weak grounder to third. Bryant scooped it up and rifled a throw to Rizzo for the final out, lifting the weight forevermore.

The party started and would not end, not on this night. Lester stopped the clubhouse celebration for a moment, and the room quieted as he delivered one final salute to the retiring Ross.

"He went out a (bleeping) champion," Lester yelled, bringing down the house.

The Cubs were professional partiers and were ready to let loose. Actor Bill Murray joined the festivities, interviewing players and clinking champagne bottles with Epstein, who announced he was going on a bender and turning the team over to Hoyer.

It had to end with the Cubs beating the Indians 8-7 in 10 innings in Game 7 of the World Series, in a ballpark occupied by thousands of road-tripping Cubs fans, on a summer-like...

It had to end like this, after a 108-year drought that consumed Cubs fans and vexed experts for decade after decade.

It had to end with the Cubs beating the Indians 8-7 in 10 innings in Game 7 of the World Series, in a ballpark occupied by thousands of road-tripping Cubs fans, on a summer-like...

(Paul Sullivan)

Twenty minutes later, Lester stood in the corner of the clubhouse, away from the cacophony, and put the season in perspective.

"This is why I came here," he said. "To break the goat or the black cat or God knows what else somebody wants to talk about. It's over. It doesn't matter. A curse for me is an excuse, looking for a way out. We just played good baseball. We didn't care about goats. We cared about each other, cared about getting outs.

"We cared about playing good baseball and we did that from Day One. And here we stand. Everybody wanted to doubt us in LA and say we can't hit good pitching and we can't do this and we can't do that.

"Here we are."

There they were.

The Cubs were finally world champions again, and no one ever would be able to take this moment away.